Plant Communication, Raspberry Future, Orchard Efficiency

Plant Communication Breakthrough

Traditional thought holds that a disease-causing organism has to penetrate a plant to initiate resistance. Now, two Washington State University scientists have established that a barley plant recognizes an invader and begins to marshal its defenses within five minutes of an attack. The discovery, along with the scientists’ successful cloning of barley’s disease-fighting gene and the pathogen’s signaling gene, could help to revolutionize the battle against cereal crop enemies such as stem rust. Unless carefully controlled, stem rust has the potential to destroy a grower’s entire crop.

Historically, stem rust has caused the loss of millions of bushels of grain and millions of dollars. Meanwhile, new threats are on the horizon. For example, Ug99 is an evolving wheat pathogen that poses a dangerous threat to global food security, especially in developing countries.

“Now that we understand how the plant pathogen interaction mechanism works, we hope we can manipulate it to build resistance in plants,” said Andy Kleinhofs, professor of molecular genetics in WSU’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. With further research, he added, that understanding could lead to new, more effective ways to battle crop diseases such as stem rust and Ug99.

Andy Kleinhofs and Jayaveeramuthu Nirmala. Photo by Brian Clark/WSU

“It will take time for research on Ug99 to see if the mechanism works the same as in this case,” Kleinhofs said. “If it is the same, we could use the technology to defeat Ug99.”

Kleinhofs and Assistant Research Professor Jayaveeramuthu Nirmala focused their research on understanding Rpg1, a gene that provides barley with resistance to the pathogen that causes stem rust. Rpg1 is unique in that it has provided durable resistance in barley over the past 60 years, Kleinhofs said. His laboratory team previously successfully cloned that resistance gene, which when combined with the recently discovered genes that activate it, delivers a one-two punch against stem rust.

It was while monitoring the activity of those combined genes that Kleinhofs and Nirmala observed and documented communication between the barley plants and stem rust spores. In the process, the researchers identified the proteins recognized by the Rpg1 resistance gene and saw the series of signals that tell the plant to protect itself. “It is clear that the plant recognizes the pathogen within five minutes of the spore touching the leaf,” said Camille Steber, a research geneticist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service at WSU.

The plant’s initial reaction to attack is invisible to the human eye, Nirmala said, but she succeeded in monitoring subtle changes in plant chemistry that demonstrated the plant not only recognized it was under attack but was starting to muster its resistance. Visible signs of the stem rust spore’s impact come within an hour, when pad-like lesions connecting the spore to the leaf cell begin to appear.

A reviewer of Kleinhofs’ and Nirmala’s recent paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences said the discovery “will probably open a whole new avenue of research of plant-pathogen interactions.” Steber said the discovery is a game-changer for plant scientists. “This is the first example where the lock-and-key of cereal-pathogen response is clearly understood,” she said.

Kleinhofs called his and Nirmala’s understanding of the signaling that was going on between plant and pathogen “one of those ‘Eureka!’ moments. There is still a lot to be learned,” he added. “As with any new discovery, more questions arise than have actually been answered, but it is a good start.”

–Kathy Barnard

For more information on research in the WSU Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences, please visit http://css.wsu.edu/.

Mapping the Future of Raspberries

It takes a long time–14 years on average–to develop a new cultivar of red raspberry using traditional methods and, even then, breeders can’t always accomplish what growers and consumers want. Understanding consumer and grower needs and refining breeding processes to develop cultivars that meet those needs is the focus of a new nationwide grant being led by Washington State University.

Scientists at WSU Puyallup and the Pullman campus have received a $50,000 planning grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crops Research Initiative to lead a team of researchers throughout the United States and Canada in gathering grower input. They’ll ask what the next cultivars of red raspberry should look like in terms of yields, fruit size, firmness, disease susceptibility and machine harvestability, among other things, and what they should taste like. The information they gather will set the stage for a much larger grant to actually bring the latest genomics and genetics research to bear on developing those cultivars.

Patrick Moore

“Taking the time to listen to consumer and grower needs and map out a plan absolutely will help speed up raspberry breeding,” said researcher Patrick Moore, a scientist stationed at WSU Puyallup, “but perhaps more importantly, we’ll be more likely to come up with the things we really need and want out of future cultivars. We’ll have a better product.”

Moore, along with Associate Professor and Sensory Scientist Carolyn Ross and Extension Specialist Catherine Daniels, will work with counterparts at Salve Regina University, University of Illinois, Brigham Young University, North Carolina State University, Cornell, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to systematically seek and analyze input from red raspberry growers, processors and consumers. The first of those listening sessions/workshops will be held in Ohio in January.

One aspect of the sessions will be discussion of some of the costliest pests of red raspberries, such as root rot, raspberry bushy dwarf virus and nematodes. “All of these diseases are tailor-made to be addressed by the latest molecular techniques in use,” Moore said.

He noted that the team will work closely with currently funded efforts, such as USDA’s RosBREED project. RosBREED, a nationwide project that includes other WSU scientists, is focusing on marker-assisted breeding in rosaceaous crops such as apples, peaches, cherries and strawberries. Red raspberries, a part of the Rosaceae family, were not included in the RosBREED grant. “We will be working to develop similar techniques to RosBREED’s only tailored for red raspberries,” he said. “We want to complement their work and coordinate whenever possible.”

New System Offers Promise of Improved Orchard Efficiency

Researchers are hot on the trail of innovations that will improve orchard efficiency.

While widely considered the world’s best, most consistently excellent source of apples, the Washington tree fruit industry now faces serious competition from growers in South America, China, and Europe. That’s why scientists at WSU have joined forces with researchers in New York and Michigan to develop an innovative system for the delivery of pesticides, fertilizers and other inputs vital to an orchard’s health.

Currently, to protect an orchard from a pest outbreak, a worker must drive a tractor hauling a sprayer up and down the rows of trees. As Jay Brunner, an entomologist and the director of WSU’s Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, pointed out, there are several inefficiencies in this scenario. The worst is that the orchard manager simply may not have enough equipment to cover a large orchard in a timely manner.

Enter the solid-set canopy delivery system. Like an orchard cooling system that sprays water over the entire roof of the orchard, the canopy delivery system would be built into the fixed (“solid-set”) trellis system in order to simultaneously deliver inputs orchard-wide.

“This system would remove tractor operators from close proximity with pesticides, so there would be even further reduction of health risks than there already is with our modern, soft pest control chemicals,” said Brunner, who is leading WSU’s efforts on the project. “We may also be able to get better efficacy from existing pest control materials by reducing chemical drift and application rates.” Improving efficacy and reducing pesticide application rates means lower costs for growers–and improved environmental safety for orchard workers as well as consumers.

Brunner said the solid-set canopy delivery project was based on a small-scale proof-of-concept demonstration done by ag engineers at Cornell University in New York and Michigan State University. Scientists from all three institutions are being funded by a two-year grant from USDA.

“We’re taking a three-pronged approach,” Brunner said. “There are engineering problems to work out, such as optimizing the design of emitters. We are collaborating with Qin Zhang and his team at the Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser.”

The emitters will need to blow spray up into tree foliage rather than onto the ground, and also be tested for drift. “We’ll add a dye to the spray,” Brunner said,” which will allow us to detect movement of spray off site. The dye will also enable us to quantify coverage within the orchard.” Zhang and his team have already developed sophisticated computer modeling techniques that will enable them to perform preliminary testing of proposed emitter designs in virtual orchards, thus cutting down costs and speeding up development time.

Another aspect of the project is economic. “Unless we can develop a system that beats the cost of the way things are done now, no one will adopt the technology,” Brunner said. He is hopeful that the new delivery method will be a winner. “Work in Michigan test plots indicates that large blocks could be treated in just a few minutes,” he said. The ability to treat 20 acres in minutes rather than hours would be a quantum leap in efficiency over tractor-delivered spraying.

The system should be able to do much more than deliver pest control chemicals, Brunner said. “We’re going to be looking at horticultural practices with our colleague Matt Whitting at WSU’s research center in Prosser,” he said. Blossom and fruit thinners, used to maintain optimal fruit size and quality, could also be delivered throughout large orchards using this system, as could sunburn protection and tree nutrients, adding further economic incentive for growers to adopt the system.

“We’re in the planning stages right now, with work beginning later this month,” Brunner said. “We are talking to industry professionals to see what they would want from this system, as well as to understand what they consider the barriers to adoption. And we’re talking with irrigation companies to get help with developing infrastructure and designing new emitters. Next spring, we’ll be installing what we’ve developed over the previous fall and winter in test plots here in Wenatchee as well as in Prosser, and possibly in commercial orchards.”

WSU dedicated its new wine science center June 4, announcing that the center will bear the name of its top supporter. Theodor (Ted) Baseler, president and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates who also served as chair of WSU’s Wine Campaign, said the company understands the direct correlation between the most successful wine regions of the world and proximity to higher education institutions conducting wine science.

Earning a Ph.D. is never an easy process, but Georgina Mitchell experienced a far rockier road than most.
“My third first year, I finally finished my last first year class,” said Mitchell, a Spokane resident and member of the Coeur d’Alene tribe.
But this weekend, Mitchell, 41, received her doctoral degree from the School of Economic Sciences after starting the program in 2007.

'It was a great honor': Dr. Jay Brunner is 2015 Apple Citizen of the Year

CAHNRS is more than agriculture. With 24 majors, 19 minors, and 27 graduate level programs, we are one of the largest, most diverse colleges at WSU. CAHNRS Cougs are making a difference in the wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities, improving ecological and economic systems, and advancing agricultural sciences.

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June 11, 2015The 2015 crop tour season is underway at Washington State University. Tours give growers and the public a way to view field trials and interact with WSU researchers about cereal varieties and crop management practices. ... - Edit Item

June 10, 2015Wild yeasts grow naturally on grapes, and researchers at Washington State University are looking to find what impact those wild yeasts can have on bottles of wine.
“Winemaking is more sorcery than science,” said Dean Glawe, a WSU plant pathology professor. “Part of what makes particular wines special is what’s growing on the grapes.” - Edit Item

June 8, 2015Juicy ripe strawberries, crunchy dill pickles, tree-ripe peaches – nothing tastes better than home-preserved foods. A well-stocked pantry is a big step towards ensuring your family always has plenty of healthy food. However, safely preserving food at home requires a bit of knowledge, time set aside, and a small investment in equipment. - Edit Item

June 8, 2015Join the Washington State University Department of Crop and Soil Sciences for its 2015 Weed Science Field Tour from 1 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 17 at the R.J. Cook Agronomy Farm in Pullman.
The WSU Weed Science Tour educates growers and industry members on management of weeds, and provides the public with an opportunity to discuss ongoing research with faculty. - Edit Item

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A comprehensive study finds organic agriculture is more profitable for farmers than conventional agriculture.
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The goal of the Washington State University CAHNRS Office of Research is to promote research beneficial to the citizens of Washington. The Office of Research recognizes its unique land-grant research mission to the people of Washington and their increasing global connections. The CAHNRS Office of Research provides leadership in discovering and applying knowledge through high-quality research that contributes to a safe and abundant food, fiber, and energy supply while enhancing the sustainability of agricultural and natural resource systems.

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A comprehensive study finds organic agriculture is more profitable for farmers than conventional agriculture.
The results show that there’s room for organic agriculture to expand and, with its environmental benefits, to contribute a larger share in feeding the world sustainably. - Edit Item

Dairy cows produce lots of manure. A WSU student’s research on cutting the environmental impact of all that waste won him second place in a poster competition at Seattle’s annual Waste to Worth conference. - Edit Item

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Shellfish production in Washington is a $60 million a year industry. Several major pests plague this industry, resulting in major crop loss. One of the most important pests is subterranean burrowing shrimp. These shrimp bioturbate (stir up) the sediment, causing the oysters to sink and die. For the past 60 years the industry has been using the insecticide Sevin to control this pest, but due to lawsuits its use was phased out in 2012. Without alternative control for shrimp, tens of millions of dollars in annual crop revenue will be lost and the industry will quickly lose its economic viability in southwestern Washington.

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Faculty & Staff

Ron Nugen, June 15 | Submitted by Katherine
Ron has a tough job- fixing broken equipment yet Ron always seems nice. I am grateful whenever Ron is here to fix whatever I break. He always calms me down and lets me know that the super expensive equipment is fixable. He is also really easy to chat to and is very approachable.

Bill Bonner, June 12, Great Customer Service | Submitted by Laura Coughenour
Bill didn't hesitate to work to resolve a recent issue I created for myself. He wasn't concerned with why I made the mistake I did, just with getting it resolved right away. He saved the day for me.

Frances Bardessano, June 8 | Submitted by Tora Brooks
Frances is the person that runs the reception desk at WSU/IAREC. Frances is the first person one sees upon entering Hamilton Hall. She fields telephone calls, helps visitors to the research station locate the people they need to see and/or helps them figure out who they need to see! One of her many tasks is helping out graduate students and staff with our many questions. She is courteous, friendly and professional. I appreciate her multitasking on behalf of everyone who works here. Thank you, Frances!

Beth Torne, June 5 | Submitted by Katherine
Beth is always smiling and able to make sense of all my babbling. She coordinates my undergraduates and helps them get paid all without complaining how late we can be sometimes. She is always keeping up on notifications and keeping all our undergraduates in line. Beth even goes beyond the month-to-month calculations and helps me figure out my monthly undergrad schedules for the next three months at a time.

Jeffry Bowman, June 5 | Submitted by Katherine
Jeff is always willing to help with any technical problem with a smile. He really brightens up accounting for me as a lab technician. Jeff is always willing to work with me and even on short notice he is quick to get the job done.

Mary Kittelson, June 5 | Submitted by Katherine
Mary is always saying "please" and "thank you" for everything, even little tasks. She is always thinking about others and really brings a personal touch to work. Mary is our problem solver and I am thankful every day she is here to help me out of sticky situations.

Jeannine Burke, June 5 | Submitted by Lynne Carpenter Boggs
Jeannine is always wonderful to work with, very positive. This spring she put in extra time and effort to help finalize a grant submission that would help veterans become farmers. There were multiple partners involved, so extra complexity in the process. Jeannine stayed at it, and politely kept us on track to get all the materials together. I'm very grateful for her dedication!

Vicki McCracken, June 5 | Submitted by Karla Makus
Dr. McCracken works tirelessly behind the scenes to complete reports, assessments, evaluating courses, handling difficult student decisions, etc. every day. Her work day must be 20 hours long! She is also an outstanding teacher who enjoys "teaching" to all types of students. I appreciate all she does for SES.

Donna Cowsert, June 5 | Submitted by Rob Penney
Donna is always ready to help us with a cheerful smile (even when she's slammed with work and had to stay until 7 PM yesterday), great can-do attitude, and amazing financial and computer skills. She'll fly through a dozen different computer screens so fast I can't follow what she's doing but then explain the results in a way I can understand clearly. I've been a project manager for 20+ years but depend on her so much periodically, such as when I'm submitting a proposal or ending a project.

Katie Vetter, June 5 | Submitted by Cristie Crawford
Katie served as the Interim AFS/IPS Academic Coordinator while I was out on Maternity Leave. She had assistance from others in the office, but she served as the primary contact for everyone. Katie is still assisting me as I slowly return to work. She takes on every challenge with confidence and has made my return much easier. As a grad student, Katie is able to balance so many things in her life and she does it with grace. Thank you, Katie, for all of your work and support these past few months! You are amazing!! :)